Redistricting plan’s next battle: Boiling down the proposal to 100 words

Beth LeBlanc The Detroit News Published 10:37 p.m. UTC Aug 1, 2018 After the Michigan Supreme Court decided late Tuesday that a redistricting proposal can go on the November ballot, the next battle will focus on how the plan is summarized in 100 words for Michigan’s voters. The anti-gerrymandering proposal secured its place on the general election ballot when the high court ruled 4-3 that the proposed changes did not “significantly alter or abolish the form or structure of our government” and didn’t require a constitutional convention for adoption. The Voters Not Politicians plan would create a 13-member independent commission to draw political boundaries instead of the political party in power. Opponents funded by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce argued the measure in part puts the task of redistricting into the hands of random appointees, instead of representatives elected by the people. The Michigan chamber is disappointed with the Supreme Court ruling, CEO Rich Studley said Wednesday, but will respect the decision. The chamber’s involvement in advertising campaigns opposed to the measure remains to be seen, he said. Studley anticipated a “difficult, almost impossible” task ahead for the State Bureau of Elections as it attempts “to fairly and accurately summarize this proposal in 100 words or less” for the ballot. The Supreme Court decision was a big hurdle to clear for the ballot committee Voters Not Politicians, said Mark Brewer, lead attorney in a federal suit challenging fairness of the 2011 redistricting maps. “The next fight will be over the ballot summary, which as we all… [Read full story]